Installed my entry to this year’s TRAIL sculpture trail along the Teignmouth sea front in South Devon today. My children have helped me with it from the start and we have had great time making it from old chicken wire (a recycled previous sculpture), used wine corks, old material and jewellery recycled from unsaleable donations to local charity shops. Many thanks to my friends and their families who have been saving me wine corks for months!

The idea behind the tree came from a real tree I saw whilst on honeymoon in Cyprus that was festooned with ribbons, rags, trinkets and tiny paper prayers which had been hung on the tree as prayers for the dead and sick. The tree was striking, otherworldly and a bit magical and the image stayed with me and has finally bubbled out as a sculpture!

I invite passers by to come and collect a ribbon of material from the supply on the site and tie them to a tree whilst making a wish for someone or the future. I like the idea of the public being able to be involved with and to alter the sculpture, hopefully lots of them will want to join in! Lots of people got involved this morning while we were putting it up, I hope people enjoy it. Its in the shape of a palm tree as the local landmark tree is the Torquay Palm.

TRAIL is a free recycled sculpture trail that runs along Teignmouth Seafront for the summer holidays and the rule is that it must be made from recycled materials. All kinds of people take part from international artists to local schools and disabled groups. This may well be the last year of TRAIL as it has not received any funding this year and as it is a free walking trail there is no revenue unfortunately! My next post will be all about the other artists work, but its been a long day, so for now so long!